The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-01
Shameful.
From the New York Herald.

We lay before our readers this morning
the report of the committee of the state
board of charities charged with the duty
of investigating the management of
Wards Insane Lunatic asylum. 1t pre-
sents an arraignment of abuses in that
institution that may we'll arouse popular
indignation and call loudly for speedy
and thorough reform.
There have hOurished abuses from mad
equate and improper food supplies,
abuses from overcrowding and abuses
from lack of attendants in number and
character. The dietary is declared insult
ficient in variety and nutritious qualities,
and the food not properly prepared.
"Ihis condition of things" says the re-
port, sis wrong and shameful; especially
does it appear so in view of the fact that
the patients compelled to eat the mix
lures set before them are not ordinary
paupers, but insane persons-that is ,
say, sick persons, and many of them
acute cases-requiring for their recovery
as we'll as comfort, wholesome, digestible
and nutritious food"
The extent of the overcrowding is most
fOrcibly shown by the actual figures. The
Wards Island asylum building proper has
accommodations for thousand patients.
Yet the total number of patients is more
than nineteen hundred, or nearly double
the capacity of the building. Into this
building thirteen hundred and twenty-six
were crowded at the time of the invt stiga-
ton, or three hundred and twenty-six more
than it had accommodations for while near
ly five hundred were kept in "annexes" and
'branches" which are pronounced "unin-
habitable." The natural result has been not
merely discomfort, but positive injury and
inhumanity to the unfortunate beings so
huddIed together. The crowding of sill
thy and violent wards" is characterized as
"disgustipg and dreadful"
AS to attendants the committee finds
that they are not only grossly insufficient
in number, but that "many of them are
decidedly rough and coarse or untrust-
worthy, if not positively bad," and there
fore wholly unfit for the responsible duties
intrnsted to them. These persons are
employed to take care of the unfortunates
under their charge. But what does this
committee report? "That there are
numerous and continued injuries and in
dignities inflicted upon the patients by
the attendants in this asylum"
That this is shameful condition of
affairs in one Of our most important pub
lie institutions is obvious. Where does
the responsibility rest? The committee
does not hesitate to say that it falls
either on the board of charities and Cor
rection, in charge of the administration of
the asylum, or on the board of estimate and
appointments, which has control of the
funds needed for its maintenance, or on
both. "The failure to provide necessary
remedies and reforms in the asylum" says
the report, lis nothing more or less than
the failure TO provide the requisite funds
for sufficient buildings and current ex-
penses."
This failure is due to one or both Of the
boards above mentioned, and whoever is
responsible for it and its consequent evils
merits popular condemnation. Common
humanity, as well as the fair name of the
city, demands that the unfortunate beings
bereft of their reason shall be we'll treated
and cared for while public charge. Nal
treatment aud abuse of the helpless and
dependent are simply barbarous. Let
there be no more discreditable wrangling
and red tape about needed funds. Inc
abuses must be reformed, ard that
speedily.